Movie Review: This Is Where I Leave You
In This Is Where I Leave You, amidst a tumultuous time in his own marriage, Judd Altman (Jason Bateman) finds himself surrounded by the family members he both loves and can barely tolerate. For seven days following the burial of Judd’s father, the Altman family — led by the perfectly meddlesome family matriarch, Hillary Altman or “Mommy” (Jane Fonda) — must sit Shiva (participate in a week-long mourning period) together under one roof.
Along with sister Wendy (Tina Fey); brother/family screw-up Phillip (Adam Driver) and his much older new-to-the-family fiance, Tracy (a lovely Connie Britton); brother Paul (Corey Stoll) and his wife, Alice (Kathryn Hahn), Judd must navigate through the muddy waters of his own marriage while apprehensively attempting to restore the kinship between him, his mother, and his siblings.
Jonathan Tropper — who wrote the book the film was based on, as well as the screenplay for This is Where I Leave You — brought the book to the big screen terrifically, though I fear some brilliant notions may have gotten stuck between the pages. That said, what may seem somewhat depressing on the surface, This is Where I Leave You isn’t so much a sob story; it’s a rather enlightening rom-com-drama sprinkled with occasionally unrewarding moments. With an ensemble cast and some fairly predictable storylines and “surprises,” the design has the familiar feel of August: Osage County or The Family Stone.
The story itself is truly an exercise in overcoming — or at least muddling through — the combative, bumpy nature of love that comes with marriage and family, and the subsequent loss (in a variety of forms) of loved ones. We immediately discover that Judd’s wife, Quinn (Abigail Spencer) is sleeping with Judd’s boss (a wealthy, frat-boy-esque radio DJ who never grew up — played quite convincingly by Dax Shepard). What ensues is one of the most painfully uncomfortable and hilarious scenes of the movie.
The bond of brotherhood really comes through in This Is Where I Leave You. In fact, though the story centers on Judd, younger brother Phillip’s character produced the most dynamic moments. Adam Driver has an ability to hone in on his believable quirks, and connect with the audience through his slightly irritating, yet on-the-spot portrayal of the little brother who never quite grew up. Making less of a splash, but with an overall impact, is Judd’s and Phillip’s brother Paul. Corey Stoll and Kathryn Hahn are terrific supporting actors in their roles as Judd’s brother and sister-in-law, trying to get pregnant.
ane Fonda, Jason Bateman, Tina Fey, Corey Stoll, and Adam Driver in “This Is Where I Leave You.” © 2014 – Warner Bros. Pictures.
Tina Fey plays Wendy — Judd’s sister and confidant, who can’t seem to shake her first true love, Horry Callen (charmingly played by Timothy Olyphant), who was in a traumatic car accident several years prior. In a loveless marriage of her own, Wendy and Judd share some of the warmer moments — and biggest secrets — on screen. Penny (Rose Byrne) sparkles as the girl who never left their small hometown, and whose childhood crush on Judd adds to his overall apprehension.
The one-liners fly throughout this movie, and Cole (a toddler played by Cade Lappin) is one of the funniest tiny humans I’ve seen on-screen. Eventually, all cats are out of the bag as world-renowned writer and therapist Mommy — sexy, and romantically charged upon the death of her husband — finds out what her children have been up to; they, in turn, find out some secrets of hers!
Is This Is Where I Leave You the greatest movie you’ll see all year? The best ensemble cast? Probably not. But it’s certainly enjoyable, and the actors (particularly Bateman and Driver) play off each other as well as any family off the screen would. Things get a bit hairy; things get awkward; and as far as the audience is concerned, there are moments of near-tears and some genuine chuckles.
Mandi Ruffner
